Crane-controller.



T. E. BARNUM.l GBANE GONTBOLLBB.

rrLIoATIon FILED um. avi 1907.

959,909. Patented Mayr-.11,1910

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' su ATTORNEY T. E. BARNUM.

CRANE CONTROLLER.

urmou'rou mm1) 11111.27,- 1901.

959,909. Patented may 31, 1910.

4 SHEETS-.SHEET 2.

gg @y 04 lll-ill Il www s. www bo. nmuurwnnmas. wmmbu. u 11 T. E.BARNUM. I' CRANE UONTBULLEB. -Arrmouros rrnnn'um. s1, 1901.

Patented MayBl, 1'910.

T. E. BARNUM.-

CRANE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1907 959,909. Patented May 31, 1910.

l 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. W .jf

WITNESSES:

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

THOMAS E. BARNUM, or MILWAUKEE, WIsooNsI'N, nssIGN'on To THE oU'TI-Inn-HAMMER MFG. oo., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or WISCONSIN.

CRANE-CONTROLLER.

To all 11s-hom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BARNUM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofl/Viscc-nsin, have invented new xand useful Improvements inCrane-Controllers, of which the following isa full, clear, conoise, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in motor controllers, and isparticularly applicable to controllers which perform the functions of arheostat and reversing switch.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a controller of theabove character which will produce better results in practice thanthose-heretofore devised, and in which the parts are simplified and maybe all mounted upon a single supporting member.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention, lI have illustrated in theaccompanying drawings one embodiment thereof.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a controllerembodying my invention.

ing the circuit connection thereof.

For supporting the controller and inclosing various parts thereof, Iprovide an inclosed casing 1 preferably cylindrical in form and having abase 2, provided with legs, Suitable openings are formed in the back ofthe casing to perm-it a free 'circulation of air 'about the resista-nceto dissipate the heat.

All of the parts of the. controller are mounted upon a suitable base vorface ,plate 5, which preferably takes the form of a circular disk formedof insulating material, such as soapstone or the like, and which isadapted to lit within the casing and be secured in position by bolts orscrews 6 which pass through the face plate, and are adapted to bescrewed into inwardly extending lugs 7 formed integrally with the casing1-.

Secured upon the .rear of the face plate 5 is a fram-e which preferablyconsists of an integral structure made up ef magnetic material and'comprising four arms 8, which Specification of Letters la'tent.

Application led August '27, 1907.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken onl the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1.. Fig. 3 isa transverse section-al view of the controller talren f on the lines 3-3ofFig. 1. Fig. t is a rear view of the controller, the casing beingin gsection and taken on the lines tof Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 .is a diagrammaticview showj Serial No. 390,305.

extend radially from a common center. These arms are equi-distant apartand at their ends extend forwardly to the face plate, screws 9 passingthrough the face plate and into the ends of the arms 4secure the framein position on the face plate. A sleeve 10 of nonconducting material,surrounding each screw 9, is interposed lbetween the ends of the armsand the rear of the face plate to properly space the arms face from theplate. The end of each of the arms is provided with a pair of polepieces 11 which are preferably integrally formed on the ends of the arm.

A bearing is formed at the junctions of the arms 8 in which is supportedone end of shaft 12, the opposite end of which shaft is supported inbearing or sleeve 13, which fits Ain a central Iopening in the faceplat-e 1 and is' secured in position by screws 14 that pass throughradial arms 15 integral withthe sleeve, and through the face plate 5.The rear end of the shaft 12 is provided with a collar 16 fastenedthereto by any suitable means and bearing `against the back of the frameto prevent axial displacement of the shaft. A cam 17 is preferablyformed upon the collar and is provided with two stop lugs 18, onearranged at each end of an arc concentric with the axis of the shaft.The shaft may be turned through an are correspondin to the distance tothe lugs 18. The sur -ce of the can-1 between the stops is provided witha notch 19 which is located midway between the stops 18.` One of thearm-s 8 of theframe is provided with a ro'- jection 20 which is arrangedin the pat of the movement of the lugs 18 so that the same may strikeagainst the projection to limit the are through which the shaft may beturned. When the shaft stands in its initial position, each lug isequi-distant from the projection. Extending vertically through theprojection 20 is a circular `hole in which is arranged a slidablecylindrical block 2.1, having an upwardly extending tail-rod 22, In theupper porti-on Aof the circular hole a ledge is formed and above theledge thediameter of the hole is just sufficient to admit the tail-rod.A bearing is thusprovided for the tail-rod. The upper end of thetail-rod is provided witha vertical slot through which passes a m23 topreventthe re from turning. e cylindrical block is pressed downward by aPatented May 31, 1910.

thus holds the parts against accidentall movement.

The outer end of the shaft 12 carries va hub 26 from which extends ahandle or lever 27 for operating the controller. The hub carries twopairs of contact arms, one pair having arms 28 and 29, and the other,arms 30 and 31. These arms extend radially and are equi-distant apart.The arms of each pair are preferably integral and are` preferably madeof cast iron which is adapted to serve as both an electrical andmagnetic conductor. The two pair of arms are fastened to the hub bymeans of suitable bolts 32 and insulatin material 33 is placed betweenarms, the hu s and the bolts, and insulating sleeves 34 surround thebolts so as to electrically insulate one pair of arms from the other.The outer ends of each of the arms preferably carry contacts which maytake the form of U shaped members 35, the legs of the U being adapted tofit upon either 'side of the arms, and provided with slots 36 throughwhich extend pins 37 for preventing the contacts from coming off thearms. The slots in the contacts permit a slight movement of the contactson the arms, and springs 38 interposed between the arms and the contactsserve to maintain the contacts in close electrical engagement with thecontact plates` The face plate 5 carries four groups or sets of contacts39, 40, 41 and 42 arranged concentrically with the axis of the shaft 12.These contacts are preferably what is known in the art as face lateor'radial contacts.

The four groups o contacts are arranged,

one group in each of four arcs of l equal length and equal radius, theseveral arcs being `equi-distant apart and having a'common center. Eachcontact is preferably held in place by means of screws, the heads ofwhich are counter-sunk in the face of the contact. plate and arethreaded into plates 43 upon the back thereof, and which preferablycarry binding screws 44 by means of which electrical connection is madeto the conductors and the resistance hereinafter set forth.

The screws pass through the face www groups of contacts is preferablyarranged an insulating block 45 upon which the contacts of the four armsare adapted to rest when the arms are in the initial or off position.

A blowout coil 46 is preferably mounted upon the spider or shaft 12 andtakes the form of a magnetic winding, which may be wound upon a tube ofbrass or other nonconducting material and between end pieces 47 ofinsulating material. A sleeve 48 is interposed between the coil 46 andthe spindle 12, whereby the spindle may turn without causing the blowoutcoil to turn with it.

The contact arms 28, 29, 30 and 3l, and the arms 8 of the frame formpole pieces for the blowout magnets. The four contact arms and the fourarms of the frame form four pairs of poles, one pair at each point wherean arc forms, opening the circuit. The contact at each end of each endof contacts is preferably larger than the intermediate contacts as thecircuit is opened and closed on that contact. The late 49 to which theend contact is fastene is preferably made of magnetic material, and asbefore described, the outer end of each of the arms 8 is divided intotwo polar faces 11 one arranged back of thetwo magnetic plates 49. Aninsulating plate 50 is preferably placed over the polar faces toinsulate the same from the adjacent plates 49.

VWhen the contact arms are returned to the initial position an arc tendsto form between each contact arm and the adjacent end contact of the setof stationary contacts over which the contact arm has been moved. Thisarc is extinguished by the magnetic flux that passes between the polepieces formed by the contact arm and a corresponding arm of the frame.The circuit or path of the magnetic flux that is created by the blowoutcoil extends from the shaft 13, through the radial arms 8 of the frame,thence across the arc zone, to one of the contact arms, 28 for instance,and back through said arm to the shaft 6.

In the structure shown in the drawing the circuit is broken at fourpoints when the contact arms are returned to initial position. Thecontact arms and the radial arms of the frame form pairs of poles forthe blowout coil at each of these points. In consequence a magnetic fluxis sent across each arc zone, thereby causing the arc to be extinuished. Inasmuch as each contact arm orms a ole piece for the magneticflux the flux 1s distributed at points where it will be most effectivein extinguishing arcs that occur upon the opening of the circuit.

A lurality of plates 51 are secured upon the ace plate, carrying bindingscrews 52 by which the controller is connected to the motor and to asource of electrical energy.

Mounted upon the rear of the faceplate f are a plurality of resistanceunits 53 which may take most any desired form, but the preferable formthat I use comprises a tube or spindle of porcelain upon which theresistance Wires are wound, and a suitable inclosing casing. Theresistance units are secured upon the rear of the face plate by means ofbolts or screws 54 which extend through the face plate and through theunits, suitable nuts 55 being provided upon the ends of the bolts forholding the units in position. These resistance units may be arrangedupon the face plate in any desired manner, but I have illustrated themin the present form, as being arranged in groups of three or four, eachgroup being placed in an arc concentric with the arcs of the groups ofcontacts. By this arrangement the resistance units are placed where theytalre up minimum amount of space.

The circuit relations of the parts of my controller are illustrated inFig. 5, and I shall now describe the same. The controller may be usedfor controlling a suitable motor having an armature 56 and a seriesfield 57. It will of course be understood that my device is adaptable tocontrol other forms of motors as well as the form herein. In order todistinguish certain parts of the controller from one another indescribing the various circuits, I shall use letters as exponents of thereference numerals that I have heretofore used.

In each group 4of contacts 39, 40, 4l and 42, each contact on one sideof the center contact is electrically connected to the correspondingcontact on the other side of the center contact by a crossconnector. For example in the group of contacts 39 each contact 39El iselectrically connected with its corresponding contact 39". The contacts39al and 39" are thus electrically connected in pairs. Each grou ofcontacts is connected to a resistance which is divided in sections orsteps, the number of steps being equal to the number of pairs ofcontacts. One end of the resistance 1s connected to the center contactsand the other end to the outer or end pair of contacts, interveningsections of resistance being connected to the intermediate pair ofcontacts. The second section is connected between the second pair ofcontacts and the third pair of contacts and so on until the last sectionis connected between the fourth pair of contacts and the center con*tact. It will be noted that each group of contacts is electricallyindependent of the other groups. The center contact 42 is connected b aconductor 58 to the outer terminal of t e blowout coil 46. The innerterminal of the coil is connected through conduct/or 59 to the bindingpost 52. The center contact 39 is' connected by a conductor 60 to thebinding post 52". The center contact 40 is connected by ,the conductor6l of the binding post 52c and the center contact 41 is connected byconductor 62, with the binding post 52a. The binding post 52 isconnected by conductor 63 with the positive side 64 of the line. Oneterminal of the armature 56 is connected by conductor 65 with thebinding post 52", and the other terminal of the armature is connected byconductor 66 with the binding post 52". One 'terminal of the iield 57 isconnected by conductor 67 to the binding post 52", and the othertermina] of the field winding is connected with the negative side 68 ofthe line.

As previously stated the contact arms are divided into two pairs, eachpair being electrically insulated from the other, and the arms of eachpair being preferably made integral so as to electrically connect thecontacts carried at the ends thereof. It will be noted that four movablecontacts electrically connected in two pairs are thus provided, and thatthese contacts are adapted to pass one over each group of stationarycontacts. Of course, it will be understood that I may electricallyconnect the four movable contacts in two pairs in a dillerent way thanthat which I have shown.

If the contact arms be moved clock-wise, the arm 28 will move over thecontacts 39a and arm 29 will move over the contacts 42a. The arm 3()will move over the contacts 40a and the arm 3l will vmove over thecontacts 41a. When each contact arm comes into engagement with the rstof the stationary contacts in the course of its travel, circuit will beclosed from the positive line 64 by conductors 63 and 59, through theblowout coil 46 by conductor 458, center contact 42, resistance 53,first contact 42a, arm 29, arm 28, first contact 39a, resistance 53,center contact 39, conductors 66 and 66, armature 56, conductors and 62,center contact 4l, resistance 53", rstcontact 41a, arm 3l, arm 30, firstcontact 40a, resistance 53", lcenter contact 40, conductors 61 and 67,through the field winding 57 and thence to the negative side 68 ofthe-line. As the arms pass over the successive contacts, the resistanceswill be removed from circuit, step by step, and when the arms reach thecenter contacts, all of the resistance will have been removed fromcircuit, and the motor will be running at full speed.

If the arms be turned in a counter clockwise direction, the arm 28 willpass over contacts 42", the arm 29 over contacts 4l", the arm 30 overcontacts 39", and the arrn 3l over contacts 40". When each arm engagesthe first contact, circuit will be closed from the positive line 64, byconductors 63 and 59, through the blowout coil 46, conductor 58, centercontact 42, resistance 53C, end contact 42", arm 38, arm 29, end contact4l", resistance 53", center contact 41 conductors 62 and 65, through thearmature 56, conduc- IOO tors 55 and 60, center contact 39, resistance53, end contact 39h, arm 30, arm 31, end contact 401), resistance 53a,center contact 40, conductors 61 and 67, through the field winding 57,and thence to the negative side 68 of the line. Accordingly current willflow through the armature 1n an opposite direction to that which itwould when the arms were moved clock-Wise, and therefore the motor willbe started in a reverse direction. As the arms pass over the contacts42", 41", 401 and 39", the resistance will be removed from circuit, stepby step, and

when the arms have reached the center con,

tacts all of the resistance will have been removed from circuit and themotor will be running at full speed in reverse direction.

Inasmuch as contacts 42 and 40 are positive and negative respectively,as the contacts 39 and 41 are connected to the opposite terminals of thearmature, and as the contacts 41 and 40 may be connected by the arms 30and 31 and contacts 89 and 42 by arms 28 and 29 or the contacts 39 and40 may be connected by the contacts 30 and 31 and 4contacts 41 and 42 bycontacts 28 and 29, the controller isenabled to perform the func tion ofa reversing switch as well as that of a controller.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controller, the combination with a face plate, of a plurality ofsets of circumferentially arranged contacts, the contacts of each setbeing electrically connected in pairs, and, each set of contacts beingelectrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a resistancemounted on said face plate and connected to each set of contacts, saidresistance being divided into sections and each section beingelectrically connected to a pair of contacts, and movable contactsmounted on said face plate, and arranged to pass over said sets ofcontacts.

2. In a controller, the combination'with a casing, of a face plate settherein, a plurality of sets of circumferentially arranged contactsmounted on said face plate, the contacts of each set being electricallyconnected in pairs, and each'set of contacts being electricallyindependent of the other sets of contacts, a resistance mounted on saidface plate and within said casing connected to each set of contacts,said resistance being divided into sections and each section beingelectrically connected to a pair of contacts, and movable contactsmounted on said face plate arranged to pass over saidsets of contacts.

3. In a motor controller, in combination, a face plate, four sets offace plate contacts arranged thereon, said contacts being arrange one ineach of four arcs equi-distant apart on the same circumference, two diametrically opposite sets being electrically connected to the terminalsof the line, and the other two diametrically opposite sets beingelectrically connected to the terminals of the motor, cross connectionsconnecting the contacts of each set in pairs, each set of contacts beingelectrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a resistancemount ed on said face plate and connected to each set of contacts, andfour contact arms forming two pairs of arms mounted on said face platethe arms of each pair being integral, and said arms being adapted topass one over each set of contacts.

4. In a controller, in combination, a face plate, a plurality of sets ofcircumferentially arranged contacts, the contacts of each set beingelectrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a plurality ofresistance units mounted upon said face plate and connected to each setof`contacts, and movable contacts carried on said face plate arranged topass over said sets of contacts.

5. In a motor controller, in combination, a face plate, four sets offace plate contacts arranged thereon, said sets of contacts beingarranged one in each of four arcs equidistant apart upon the samecircumference, two diametrically opposite sets being electricallyconnected to the terminals of the line, and the other two diamet-ricallyopposits sets being electrically connected to the terminals of themotor, cross connections connecting the contacts of each set in pairs,each set of contacts being electrically independent of the other sets ofcontacts, a plu rality of resista-nce units for each set of contactsmounted upon said face plate, and four contact arms forming two pairs ofarms mounted on said face plate, the arms of each pair being integraland said arms being adapted to pass over each set of contacts.

6. In a motor controller, in combination, a face plate, a plurality ofsets of contacts mounted on one side thereof, a rotatable contact memberhaving a plurality of radial arms for engaging said set of contacts, ablowout coil arranged on the opposite side of said face platesubstantially concentric with the axis of said rotatable contact member,and a frame carried by said face plate on the same side with saidblowout coil, said frame having a plurality of radial arms forming polepieces for said blowout coil, the arms, of said frame corresponding innumber to said sets of contacts and having `their extremities disposedAopposite to the contacts at which circuit is broken.

7. In a motor controller, in combination, a face plate, a plurality ofsets of stationary contacts mounted on one side of said face plate, amagnetic frame mounted on the opposite side'of said face late and havinga plurality of radially disposed arms, each of said arms having itsextremity disposed opposite to the end contacts of two adjacent sets ofcontacts, a rotatable contact member having radial arms for engagingsaid sets of contacts, said member being movable in opposite directionsto cause said arms to engage different sets of contacts and a blowoutcoil arranged between said face plate and said frame and substantiallyconcentric with the aXis of said contact member and said frame.

8. In a controller, in combination, a face plate, a frame having fourradial arms arranged in the rear of and carried by said face plate, fourradial contact arms arranged on the front of said face plate andjournaled on a suitable bearing carried by said face plate, four sets ofstationary contacts mounted upon said face plate and arranged one ineach of four arcs equi-distant apart on the same circumference andconcentric with the axis of said Contact arm, and a-blowout coilarranged substantially concentric with the aXis of said contact arms,said contact arms and the arms of said frame forming pole pieces of saidblowout coil.

9. In a controller, in combination, a casing, a face plate arranged tofit within said casing, a frame having four radial arms arranged in therear of and carried by said face plate, four radial contact armsarranged in front of said plate and journaled in suitable bearingscarried by said plate, four sets of stationary contacts arranged one ineac'h of four arcs equidistant apart on the same circumference andconcentric with the axis of said contact arms, and a blowout coilarranged substantially concentric with the aXis of said contact arms andwithin said casin said contact arms and the arms of said 'frame formingpole pieces of said blowout coil.

10. In a motor controller, a combination, a face plate, four sets offace plate contacts arranged thereon, said sets of contacts beingarranged one in each of four arcs equidistant apart on the samecircumference, two diametrically opposite sets being electricallyconnected to the terminals of the line and the other two diametricallyopposite sets being connected to the terminals of the motor, crossconnections connecting the contacts of each set in pairs, each set ofcontacts being electrically independent of the other sets of contacts, aplurality of resistance units for each set of contacts mounted upon therear of said face plate, four Contact arms forming two pairs of arms,the arms of each pair being integral and said arms being adapted to passover each set of contacts, a frame having four radial arms mounted uponthe rear of said face plate, and a blowout coil arranged substantiallyconcentric with the axis of said contact arms, said Contact arms and thearms of said frame forming'pole pieces of said blowout coil.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

THOMAS E. BARNUM. Witnesses:

WALTER E. SARGENT, OscAR A. KELLER.

